Rise in burns from hot water bottles

Hospitals in Shanghai have seen a rise in burns caused by hot water bottles, essential items in Chinese cities without central heating in winter, especially at nighttime.

Most victims appear to be primary school students, according to anecdotal evidence provided by one of the city’s top burns units.

On Saturday, when a cold snap sent temperatures in the city to almost zero after days of rain and sleet, Ruijin Hospital received 76 patients who had been burned or scalded by hot water bottles.

This group accounted for 30 percent of the 247 burn victims treated that day, according to Zhou Jie, head nurse of its burn unit.

However, the peak was on Dec 23, when hot water bottles were responsible for almost half of all burn cases, she said, adding that the normal daily proportion in winter is no more than 20 percent.

In previous years, young women made up the biggest group of patients. Yet this winter, most have been children around 10 years old.

“Parents often say their children stay up late doing homework, and by then their hands and feet are too cold for them to go to sleep,” Zhou said. “They give them hot water bottles to warm them up and they quickly fall asleep — but before they know it the child’s legs have been scalded.”

She explained that a human’s normal skin temperature is about 30 C, while hot water bottles can get warmer than 50 C.

Yes, it makes people feel comfortable, the nurse said, but if skin comes in direct contact with the scorching surface for any length of time, it can become burned and blistered.

“When someone has a hot water bottle pressed directly against their legs, shoulders or ankles during sleep, the pressure can negatively affect blood circulation in these parts of the body, which makes the scalding even worse,” she added.

Besides improper use, badly made electrically heated bottles are another major culprit in serious injuries. Zhou said that, since Jan 1, Ruijin Hospital has received more than 20 cases involving such devices.

Traditional hot water bottles feature a rubber bag with a cap, through which hot water can be poured. Yet modern models have the liquid sealed inside and are heated by plugging them into a socket.

The extra convenience has seen electrical devices grow in popularity, but low-quality products can be hazardous. China Central Television reported that one type of electric bottle is prohibited because it contains electrodes that can rust when in contact with liquid, raising the risk of an explosion.